Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Jil Bongalon (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) must be held accountable for its alleged failure to expand health insurance benefits or reduce premiums, despite holding over P700 billion in reserves and more than P500 billion in investible funds.

Thus, said Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Raul Angelo "Jil" Bongalon, who on Sunday, Dec. 15 bared that he would file a resolution calling for a congressional probe into PhilHealth’s reserve funds.

Bongalon says he wants to know where these funds are invested in and whether or not PhilHealth executives are personally benefiting from these transactions.

“At just a conservative 4 percent annual interest, P500 billion could yield P20 billion in income. How much does PhilHealth really make from its investments? Where do they place the funds, and who decides where it’s invested? Most importantly, what’s the criteria for these investments?” Bongalon asked.

The investigation comes in the wake of Congress’ decision to defund PhilHealth’s premium subsidies for 2025.

Bongalon, a member of the House contingent to the Bicameral Conference Committee, said PhilHealth has failed to utilize allocated funds to expand medical benefits.

No subsidy, no problem

Responding to critics, he said Congress’ decision not to appropriate P74 billion in premium subsidies will not deprive Filipinos of health insurance benefits, as PhilHealth has more than enough funds to cover its obligations.

Bongalon stressed that many of his constituents, including private hospitals, prefer the Department of Health (DOH)-administered Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) program because it can cover the entire hospital bill, compared to PhilHealth, which only partially covers a patient’s medical expenses.

“MAIFIP is the real lifesaver. That should be government’s priority instead of PhilHealth premium subsidies that are only kept in banks,” he said.

Early this year, the Department of Finance (DOF) ordered the state health insurer to return P90 billion in unused subsidies that were sitting in banks. However, the Supreme Court (SC) issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against it. 

Under the Universal Health Care Act, PhilHealth is required to use excess funds to either expand benefits or reduce premiums. But it has done neither, prompting Congress to withhold additional subsidies.

In hearings, Bongalon said it was revealed that P42 billion in Special Allotment Release Orders (SAROs) meant for benefit expansion, including the Konsulta Package, remain unused.

“Despite PhilHealth’s excess funds, hospitals are complaining that the state insurer often fails to pay them on time. Worse, there are reports that some are even forced to pay bribes just to be able to collect,” the Bicolano said.

PhilHealth’s handling of its funds has drawn increased scrutiny, especially as many Filipinos struggle with limited access to affordable healthcare. Bongalon stressed that the investigation would ensure transparency and accountability in managing public funds.

“The Filipino people deserve answers,” he said.